Epic views from the pool of an oceanfront resort

Strolling the brick-lined streets of Old San Juan

Island paradise with a rich cultural history

From the stunning diversity of the El Yunque Rain Forest to one of the world’s largest cave networks, the Camuy Caves, Puerto Rico is bursting with natural beauty to discover. Pull up a towel and relax on one of the island’s many tropical beaches. Put on hiking boots for a walk through some of Puerto Rico’s 36 nature reserves, 19 state forests and five wildlife refuges for a visual buffet of ever-changing scenery. Looking for more of an adrenaline rush? There’s zip-lining, rock climbing, rappelling, snorkeling, scuba diving and more. This down-to-earth destination is brimming with authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences, from local markets to art museums to performances by local musicians, from the colonial city of Old San Juan to pristine islands like Vieques.

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Natural Marvels

From a coastline of some 300 white-sand beaches to maze-like caves to bioluminescent pools, there’s much to explore here. In fact, Puerto Rico is home to three of the five bioluminescent bays in the world (Laguna Grande in Fajardo, Mosquito Bay on Vieques and La Parguera in Lajas). These bays are an awe-inspiring sight at night, packed with millions of single-celled organisms that light up the water like glowing stars. The island is also home to a number of caves, including Cueva Ventana (“Window Cave”) and the famous Rio Camuy Caves, where visitors can embark on a tour to see cave formations, bats and more.

Adventures by Land and Sea

From land to sea, there’s plenty to keep visitors busy in Puerto Rico. Tour the only subtropical rainforest in the U.S., El Yunque National Forest, to witness a wide variety of plant and animal species – some only found here. Located in northeastern Puerto Rico, the forest has a number of trails for hiking and is also home to ancient petroglyphs. Architecture lovers will want to explore some of the centuries-old buildings here, including historically significant forts and museums. Cool off in the water by swimming, surfing, rafting, tubing or kayaking down both ocean and river waters.

Dining Gems

All of that adventure-seeking will work up an appetite, so save room for local favorites. Regional specialties include fried plantains called tostones; beef-stuffed fried pastries known as empanadillas; and mashed green plaintains called mofongo. Quench your thirst with a creamy and tropical pina colada; Medalla, the local lager; or any number of rum-based cocktails made with locally produced Bacardi, Don Q and others. From high-end dining to street food, there are dining options on the island for every mood and occasion.

The Basics

Puerto Rico (which translates to “Rich Port” in English) is a collection of islands in the Caribbean, a former Spanish colony that’s now a commonwealth of the USA. The archipelago’s Spanish heritage remains prominent today in many forms, from architecture to food, music and language. English is also widely spoken, and the U.S. dollar is used throughout the island. Visiting Puerto Rico is as simple as visiting any U.S. state. An added bonus: Year-round temperatures range between 21 and 27 degrees Celsius.

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Fun Fact

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Puerto Rico’s mascot is a tiny tree frog called the coqui, which makes a distinctive ‘co-KEE’ mating call at night.

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Arroz con gandules, a yellow rice dish studded with pigeon peas and pork with a base of sofrito, is one of the signature dishes of Puerto Rico. It’s typically served during Christmas and other special occasions.

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Puerto Rico's Arecibo telescope, built into a limestone sinkhole, is the largest and most-sensitive radio telescope in the world.

Must see places

El Yunque National Forest

An 11,700-hectare tropical rainforest awaits visitors to El Yunque, where trails take you through the ferns, past the parrots and deep into the heart of Puerto Rican paradise.

San Juan National Historic Site

Learn about Puerto Rico’s complex history at this World Heritage Site. Highlights include Castillo San Felipe del Morro, known as “El Morro,” a six-level fortress that has helped defend the island for centuries, but is now admired as a stunning architectural work. Nearby, La Fortaleza, which is now the Governor’s House, poses atop a massive fort area featuring the City Wall, built between the 16th and 19th centuries and designed to protect the Bay of San Juan.

Toro Verde Nature Adventure Park

Flamenco Beach

Culebra Island’s celebrated beach is a major destination for sunbathing, soaking up the local scene and water sports. Gentle, shallow turquoise waters make for prime swimming and snorkeling conditions.

Casa Bacardi

Museum of Art and Design of Miramar (MADMi)

Located in the eye-popping 1913 Pink House (“La Casa Rosada”), this interactive museum celebrates art-making and creativity of all kinds and mediums, but particularly the historical and aesthetic development of industrial design.

Experience

Experience

Ask a Local

Ask a Local: Puerto Rico - Transcript

Puerto Rico is La Isla del Encanto, The Island of Enchantment, and I think it's called that for good reason, because it's just so full of life, and it's colorful. It has warm beaches, and perfect weather, and the sun is always shining. It's where the old world meets the new world in this lush Caribbean island. It's just ... It's such a special place. Our capital, San Juan, is the oldest city in the United States.

Old San Juan is probably the first stop you'll make when you get to Puerto Rico. It's got this gorgeous architecture, and it's this colorful place where all of our different cultures meet. And you've got so many places to eat. You can dance. You can listen to some lively music. It's really fun. In the old city, we have the Spanish fortress, El Morro. You really have to check it out. You have kite flyers outside of it. After you see El Morro, go to La Factoria. It's one of the top bars in the world, and it brought cocktail culture back to the island. Check out the Lavender Mule when you go there, it's super-refreshing. And then you should head to the beaches.

If you want to see a more hip, artsy part, you should go to Ocean Park in Santurce. Ocean Park is a really chill place to hang out. You can do some yoga. You can dip your toes in the warm sand and the water. You can just lay there on the beach, or you can play around, too. We have some great vegetarian food options, and if you're lucky, a local can take you to the Farmer's Market where they can teach you a local recipe. Santurce is a very hip, vibrant, artistic place with murals from local artists. And the coffee's really great there, too. You should definitely check out Café Con Ce for the creamiest coffee ever. And then you should walk around and look at the art. Go to Lote 23. It's so much fun.

There's a bunch of food stands and people really go there to socialize, so it's a great place to meet locals. And if you want to get out of the city and do something a little more adventurous, definitely head to the rainforest. It's only an hour away from San Juan, so you can have lunch and be zip lining the next hour. If you go to the center of the island, it's mountainous. It's filled with hills and our lush rainforest. If you want to try something new and different, definitely come during a new moon and check out one of our bioluminescent bays. We have three out of the five in the entire world.

After a long day of exploring, you should head over to La Placita. All of the locals go there to party in the streets because they close it to car traffic. And all of the bars are right next to each other, and each one is very different, so there's something for everyone. And you should definitely check out Santaela if you want something more upscale. But if not, if you want something more traditional and local, order the mofongo. Highly recommend it. You can also check out Asere, which means, Hey You, for really great Cuban food. And if you're there, definitely get a rum drink. I suggest the mojito. You'll never get a better one. Then, you should head out into the street, grab a partner and dance the night away to some live salsa.

Ask a Local: Puerto Rico

Ask a Local: Puerto Rico - Transcript

Puerto Rico is La Isla del Encanto, The Island of Enchantment, and I think it's called that for good reason, because it's just so full of life, and it's colorful. It has warm beaches, and perfect weather, and the sun is always shining. It's where the old world meets the new world in this lush Caribbean island. It's just ... It's such a special place. Our capital, San Juan, is the oldest city in the United States.

Old San Juan is probably the first stop you'll make when you get to Puerto Rico. It's got this gorgeous architecture, and it's this colorful place where all of our different cultures meet. And you've got so many places to eat. You can dance. You can listen to some lively music. It's really fun. In the old city, we have the Spanish fortress, El Morro. You really have to check it out. You have kite flyers outside of it. After you see El Morro, go to La Factoria. It's one of the top bars in the world, and it brought cocktail culture back to the island. Check out the Lavender Mule when you go there, it's super-refreshing. And then you should head to the beaches.

If you want to see a more hip, artsy part, you should go to Ocean Park in Santurce. Ocean Park is a really chill place to hang out. You can do some yoga. You can dip your toes in the warm sand and the water. You can just lay there on the beach, or you can play around, too. We have some great vegetarian food options, and if you're lucky, a local can take you to the Farmer's Market where they can teach you a local recipe. Santurce is a very hip, vibrant, artistic place with murals from local artists. And the coffee's really great there, too. You should definitely check out Café Con Ce for the creamiest coffee ever. And then you should walk around and look at the art. Go to Lote 23. It's so much fun.

There's a bunch of food stands and people really go there to socialize, so it's a great place to meet locals. And if you want to get out of the city and do something a little more adventurous, definitely head to the rainforest. It's only an hour away from San Juan, so you can have lunch and be zip lining the next hour. If you go to the center of the island, it's mountainous. It's filled with hills and our lush rainforest. If you want to try something new and different, definitely come during a new moon and check out one of our bioluminescent bays. We have three out of the five in the entire world.

After a long day of exploring, you should head over to La Placita. All of the locals go there to party in the streets because they close it to car traffic. And all of the bars are right next to each other, and each one is very different, so there's something for everyone. And you should definitely check out Santaela if you want something more upscale. But if not, if you want something more traditional and local, order the mofongo. Highly recommend it. You can also check out Asere, which means, Hey You, for really great Cuban food. And if you're there, definitely get a rum drink. I suggest the mojito. You'll never get a better one. Then, you should head out into the street, grab a partner and dance the night away to some live salsa.